It gives me great pleasure to launch Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) India’s publication ‘BFSI Sector in India’ that highlights the current status and future prospects of India’s BFSI sector. With D&B’s global footprint and market reach, this publication is certain to draw the attention of global industry leaders and policy makers. The rapid growth of the Indian economy has garnered interest across the globe, and India has emerged as a favourable investment destination over the last few years.

The progress and quality of the financial sector has been a key factor in driving the pace and diversity of the real economy. Following the financial sector reforms in the last one and half decades, the sector has greatly matured, the benefits of which are apparent to constituents of the real economy. However, the year 2008 was a test of resilience for the entire BFSI sector in India where the industry, as a whole, had to adopt innovative measures at different levels for dealing with the financial crisis. The strong growth of the economy in the past few years seems to have provided a certain amount of cushion to lessen the impact of the global crises on the Indian financial markets. The various components of the Indian financial sector, viz., the banking industry, the mutual funds industry and the insurance sector thus gradually seem to be on the road to recovery.

The steady growth trajectory of the Indian economy projected in the coming years, coupled with the increasing external orientation in terms of trade, foreign direct and institutional investments and rising per capita income presents unlimited opportunities for the booming BFSI sector in the near future. Sound fiscal policies, creation of investor awareness environment, strict regulations and other positive measures will surely meet the challenges that may emerge as the sector plots its growth curve for long term prospects.

David J. Emery
President Asia Pacific & Senior Vice President of the Corporation
Dun & Bradstreet